Variable focusing, multi-beam, illuminating device



Oct. 17, 1961 M. R. KLEIN 3,00

VARIABLE FOCUSING, MULTI-BEAM, ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed July 28, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet l A TTOQ Oct.

Filed July 28, 1958 1961 M. R. KLEIN 3,005,087

VARIABLE FOCUSING, MULTIBEAM, ILLUMINATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

BY I gain Patented Oct. 17, 1961 3,005,087 VARIABLE FOCUSING,MULTI-BEAM, ILLUMINATING DEVICE Michael R. Klein, 6411 W. 67th St.,Overland Park, Kans- Filed July 28, 1958, Ser. No. 751,518 2 Claims.(Cl. 2401.4)

This invention relates to illuminating apparatus and, more particularly,to an improved, focusing, multibeam, lighting structure especiallyadapted for use as a surgical light in operating rooms. Although otheradvantageous applications for the illuminating apparatus contemplated bythe invention will probably occur to those skilled in the art and are,therefore, contemplated as broadly included within the scope of theinvention, the particular adaptability of the structure for use as asurgical light will justify the illustration of the principles of theinvention by means of a description of a preferred embodiment ofsurgical, operating room, illuminating apparatus.

Several problems must be concurrently overcome by any illuminatingapparatus which is entirely satisfactory for use as surgical lightingmeans. First, it must be possible to vary the intensity of theillumination of the area of the patient upon which surgical work isbeing performed, this normally being accomplished through adjustment ofthe position of the light source toward or away from the area beingilluminated. Secondly, the means must illuminate or minimize the effectsof shadows cast by the hands of the surgeon or the surgical tools whichhe is using, this normally being accomplished by means of using a singlepoint type source of light provided with reflectors of relatively greatexpanse adapted to direct rays of light upon the illuminated area from anumber of special points on the reflector. Thirdly, the amount of heatradiated both into the general working space involved and upon the areaof the patients anatomy particularly being illuminated, must beminimized. Fourthly, if it were possible so to provide, the generaldimensions of the area being illuminated should remain substantiallyconstant as the light source is moved toward or away from such area tovary the intensity of illumination upon the latter. It is particularlyin the latter two respects that previous forms of surgical lightingapparatus have been deficient, in that, to obtain a sufiicient intensitylevel of illumination from a single light source utilizing theconventional reflector means, a high level of energization of suchsource has been required with consequent high radiation of heat both inthe general vicinity thereof and upon the area being illuminated. It iswith respect to the fourth requirement of an optimized surgical light,however, that the greatest difficulty has normally been encountered, inthat, as the light source is moved toward and away from the illuminatedarea to vary the intensity of illumination, conventional apparatuses areso conceived and constructed that the dimensions of the area beingilluminated will be substantially varied. Thus, in adjusting theconventional surgical lighting apparatus, some compromise between thedesired intensity of illumination and the desired dimensions of theilluminated area must normally always be made.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provideimproved illuminating apparatus overcoming the deficiencies ofconventional surgical lights in each of the above-mentioned respects.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide suchimproved illuminating apparatus in which a.

plurality of separate light sources are employed, deployed and madesubject to variable, controlled orientation in such manner that theintensity level of illumination upon the illuminated area may becontrolled by shifting the assembly toward or away from the illuminatedarea, that radiations emanating from a plurality of directions areemployed to minimize the effects of shadows, that the employment of anumber of separate, spaced, light sources of lower individual power,rather than a single high level light source, decrease both the heatdelivered into the general working vicinity and the heat imposed uponthe illuminated areas, and that the directions of focused beams of lightemanating from the several sources can be coordinatedly controlled insuch fashion as to maintain the dimensions of the illuminated areasubstantially constant regardless of the spacing of the assembly fromthe illuminated area chosen for suitably controlling the intensity levelof illumination.

It is another important object of the invention to provide such improvedilluminating apparatus in which a number of separate, automobileheadlamp type, sealed beam, lamp units are employed with the beams ofsame directed downwardly in converging relationship to focus upon thearea to be illuminated, together with means for simultaneously alteringthe inclination of the axes of all of the beams from the vertical topermit the dimensions of the illuminated area to be held constant withina relatively wide range of spacing of the assembly from the.

purposes will be made clear or become apparent as the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment of the invention progresses.

in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the overallarrangement of a preferred form of apparatus, with a second possibleposition thereof being illustrated in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on a substantially central,vertical plan through a sealed beam lamp mounting portion of theapparatus, with parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the sealed beam lamp mountingportion of the apparatus, with the dust cover removed from the latterand certain parts broken away and shown in cross section for clarity ofillustration;

PEG. 4 is a partially schematic and partially top plan representation ofan alternate means for controlling the orientation of the several lamps;and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the sealed beam unitsillustrating the manner in which the special filter contemplated by theinvention may be applied thereto.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a preferred form of the apparatuscontemplated by, the invention is generally designated by the numeral10. Apparatus 10 includes a fixed vertical mounting post 12 adapted forstationary suspension from the ceiling of the operating room, asillustrated, or might just as well be supported by means of anupstanding standard or the like (not shown). Pivotally mounted upon thepost 12 for swinging about a horizontal axis as at 14 is an elongatedarm 16 provided at one end thereof with a bifurcated yoke 18 having legs20 and 22 (see FIG. 2) and at the opposite end thereof, which is on theopposite side of the pivotal axis 14, with a counterweight 24. Pivotallymounted upon the legs 20 and 22 of the yoke 18 for swinging movementabout a horizontal axis 26 parallel to axis 14, is 'a lamp assemblygenerally designated '28. It will be understood that the counterweight24 is so chosen as to render the entire arm 16, yoke 18 and assembly 28in balanced condition with respect to the axis 14, so that the arm 16maybe easily swung as between the solid line position andthe dotted lineposition in FIG. 1 to adjust'the spacingof the lamp assembly- 28 abovethe level indicated by the line 39 of an area to be illuminated as at'32. A flexible cable 34 whose nature and purpose will be hereinaftermore fully described, has its extremity coupled with the post 12 as at36, which is spaced above the pivotal axis 14 a predetermined distance,and oppositely extends into the arm 16, which is hollow, through anopening guard bracket 38.

Referring next particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that thelamp assembly 28 includes a main frame piece 40, which is annular inoverall configuration, channel-like in radial cross section and providedwith a plurality of lamp clearing openings 42 in the upper wall 44thereof. The inner wall 46 of frame 48 is stepped as at 48to providerunning surfaces for an upright annular bank member 50 rotatably carriedthereby and held in 7 place by an inner retaining ring 52 secured in anysuitable fashion to the inner wall 46 of frame 40 as by pass fitting.

A pair of spaced brackets 54 and'56 adjacent each of theyopenings 42pivotally receive pins 58 and 60 oppositelyrextending from alamp-receiving socket 62, the axis of pivot of the sockets 62 beingcoplanar with each other and substantially tangent to and equally spacedfrom the center ofthe frame 40. In the illustrated embodiment there areprovided four openings 42 each with corresponding pivoted lamp-receivingsocket 62, 'although itwill be understood that a greater or lesser b roul c nc i a y be usedr 7 Each Socket 62 receives therein a light source64 in the nature of a conventional sealed beam headlamp unit snch as areemployed in automobiles. 'From each of the sockets 62 there extendsradially inwardly a follower element 66 whose innermost portion isslidably received within a corresponding, inclined cam slot 68 in therotatable bank 50. Since all of the slots 68 are similarly formedrelative to the sockets 62 and follower elements 66 with which theyrespectively cooperate, it will be clear that as the band 50' is rotatedrelative to the frame 40 all of the sockets 62 and lamps 64 will besimultaneously shifted about their respective pivotal axes. In thepreferred form of the invention, the cam slots 68 are so formed thatwith a given rotation of the band 50 all of the lamps 64.will be swungthrough an equal angle, although it will be clear to those skilled inthe art that,

if desired, certainof the lamps 64 could be spaced from the center ofthe frame 40 by'a greater or lesser distance than the remaining lampswith appropriate adjustment of the slopes of the various slots 68 beingmade to maintain a desired cooperation between the shifting of thevarious lamps 64 when the band 50 is rotated. 7

annular dust cover 70 is provided uponthe top of frame 40 and, when inplace, covers the sockets 62, elements 66 and band 5G. If desired, lowertransparent dust covers 72 of clear or filter glass may beprovided toclose the otherwise open bottom of the frame 40 below the lamps 64. Itis also significant that the assembly 28 is provided with an open centeras at 74 to clear a line of sight to the illuminated area, 32 from atelevision camera (not shown), which may be carried atop the assembly 28with appropriate modification of the counter-.

weight 24.

Referring now more seen that the frame 28 is provided at opposite sidesthereof with oppositely extending pivot pins 76 and 78 respectivelyreceived by corresponding bearings 80 and 82 in the legs 22 andrespectively of the yoke 18, which it may now also be noted, ispreferably hollow. One of such pins 76 is provided with a pinion 84thereon with which is operably meshed a worm 86 coupled by a shaft 88,and a speed reduction box 90 with. a reversible electric me er 22, alnteru l or e a 2 f y e 1.8- It will particularly to FIG. 3, it will be,

similarly be clear from FIG. 3 that the yoke 18 is itself pivotallymounted for rotation relative to the axis of the arm 16 by means of ashaft- 94 extending from the arm 16 and rigid thereto which is pivotallyreceived by bearings in the yoke 18 as at 96. Shaft 94 has a pinion 98thereupon with which is operably-meshed a worm 190 coupled by a shaft102 and a speed reduction box 104 with a reversible electric motor 106enclosed within arm 28 of yoke 18. As will be apparent, when the motor92 is operated, the worm 86 turns the pinion 84 and the pin 76 to swingthe lamp assembly 28 upon the axis defined by the pins 76 and 78, and,when the motor 106 is operated, the worm walks around the pinion 98 tovary the positioning of the yoke 18 and lamp assembly 28 relative to thearm 16' upon the axis defined by the shaft extension 94 from the latter.Suitable means for con-. trolling the operation of the motors 92 and 166may consist simply of a source of power with suitable manually orautomatically controlled switching means, a suitabletype of arrangementbeing later herein described in con-. nection with the possibleapplication thereto of a reversible motor shown in FIG. 4 and utilizablefor purposes explaned in connection with such figure.

Means for rotating the band 50 relative to the frame 40 may take variousforms, manual or automatically controlled, one preferred form of suchmeans being illus-.. trated in FIG. 3 and a modified form of such meansbeing illustrated in FIG; 4. Considering first the pres ferred meansof-FIG. 3, there is provided upon the top. wall 44 of frame 40 a bracket108 to which is secured one extremity of the sheath portion 110 of aflexible cable assembly generally designated 112, which may beof theform often utilized as speedometer cables or the; like, and whichincludes an inner rod part 114 which is shiftable 'reciprocably relativeto the sheath 110. A stretch of the rod part 114 extends in exposedfashion beyond the bracket 108 and is pivotally. connected as at- 116 toa lug 118 formed on the'outer side of the band 50. A spring 120 hearingat one end thereof against the bracket 1118 holding the. end of sheath110 is coiled about the exposed rod'part 114 and oppositely bears;against ablock termination 122 by which the latter is; coupled with thelug 118. Cable 112ma'y be extended through the pin 78 as .at 124, andthence through, the leg 20 of yoke. 18 and tubular arm 16 to a point ofemergence ofthe rod part 34 thereof from the opening guard 38 shown inFIG. 1, it being understood that the oppositeend of the sheath 110 willbe secured to the guard 38. Since the pivotal connection of the exposedrod part; 34 to the post 12 at 36 may be spaced in predetermined fashionfrom the pivotal axis 14, it will be clear that the; slots 68 may be soinclined and curved as to alter the inclination of the'beams from thelamps 64 in exactly tion thereto is required when the height of the lampassembly 28 is adjusted.

In FIG. 4' is illustrated an alternate means for con trollably rotatingthe band 50 relative to the frame 40 of lamp assembly 28. In such means,an arcuate rack segment 28!) is provided upon the outside of the band 50and a worm 282 meshed therewith is carried by a shaftr'otatably mountedupon the top wall of frame 40 by brackets 206. The shaft is providedwith a beveled, friction drive roller 20-8 engaged with a similar roller210 carried by the driven shaft 212 of a reversible electric motor 214.The frictional coupling 208, 210 provides a safety clutch againstinadvertent attempts to, shift the band 50 through an angle which mightdamage the elements 66 or other portions of the apparatus.

A suitable means for controlling the reversible motor 214, which asabove noted, may likewise be applied to the motors 92 and 106, ifdesired, comprises a source of electrical power represented by a batteryat 216 having one terminal thereof connected by conductive means 218with a common terminal 220 of the motor 214 (or 92 or 106), and theopposite terminal thereof connected by conductive means 222 with themanually shiftable pole piece 224 of a single pole, double throwelectrical switch having stationary contacts 226 and 228 and, ifdesired, foot pedal means 230 for shifting the pole piece 224 between aneutral position engaging neither of the contacts 226 and 228 at extremepositions for engaging either of the latter. The contact 226 is coupledby conductive means 232 with one of the latter. The contact 226 iscoupled by conductive means 232 with one of the directional Windingtermials 234, while the other contact 228 is coupled by conductive means236 with the other directional winding terminal 238 of motor 214. Thus,when the switch pole piece 224 is in neutral position, the motor 214 isdeenergized and the segment 200 and band 50 are held in stationaryposition by the worm 202, but, when the pole piece 224 is moved intocontacting engagement with either the contact 226 or the contact 228,the motor 214 will be energized in a corresponding direction to rotatethe worm 202 for shifting the band 50 in a corresponding directionrelative to the frame 40.

It may be observed that the type of control for rotatable band 50 justdescribed, is particularly useful and is preferred by some surgeons inthat it permits the surgeon, by manipulation of the foot operated pedal230, to adjust the diameter of the illuminated area 32 to a larger orsmaller magnitude at any time and regardless of the height to which thelamp assembly 28 is situated, whereas, with the control for band 50illustrated in connection with FIGS. 1 and 3, it is normally necessaryto choose a preferred size of illuminated area 32 which will then remainconstant regardless of the height of the lamp assembly 28.

In FIG. 5, there is illustrated a filter generally designated 300 havinga light passing portion 302 in covering relationship to the face 304 oflamp 64 applied to the lamp 64 and releasably held thereon by means of anumber of resilient clamps 306 disposed peripherally of the portion 302and extending upwardly around the contour of the lamp 64. It has beendiscovered that, if the filtering portion 304 is made of Aklo glass,type 5963 blue, manufactured and sold by the Blue Ridge Glass Corp. ofKingsport, Tennessee, a maximum illumination of the area 32 by lightrays of useful wave length will occur with a very minimum of heatingupon the illuminated area 32.

With the preferred embodiment of apparatus described, it is possible tomaintain a constant area 32 of illumination throughout a relatively widerange of height adjustments of the lamp assembly 28, a preferredembodiment having slots 68 providing for such consistency of size of theilluminated area 32 while the lamp assembly 28 is shifted betweenextreme positions from about thirty inches above the level 30 to aboutsixtyfive inches thereabove.

It will now be apparent that the apparatus contemplated by the inventionis ideally adapted for achieving all of the above-mentioned and otherobjects and advantages thereof. It will also be perceived by thoseskilled in the art, however, that certain minor modifications or changescould be made from the precise form of apparatus 10 described forillustrative purposes without departing from the true spirit orintention of the in vention. Accordingly, it is to be understood thatthe invention shall be deemed limited only by the fair scope of theclaims that follow.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In illuminating apparatus for use in surgical operating rooms or thelike, upright post means; an arm mounted on said post means for verticalswinging movement relative to the latter; a normally horizontal frame;means for shiftably mounting said frame on said arm remote from saidpost means, said frame shifting relative to said arm to remainhorizontal as said arm is swung to raise and lower said frame; aplurality of substantially unidirectionally radiative light sources;means pivotally mounting each of said sources on said frame for swingingmovement about separate, normally, substantially horizontal axes allsubstantially tangent to a common circle, said sources being disposedfor directing the primary radiations therefrom generally downwardlyalong angularly converging paths; shiftable control means mechanicallycoupled with said means pivotally mounting each of said sources forsimultaneously swinging said sources through substantially equal anglesrelative to said frame to vary the focus of said primary radiations; andmechanical linkage means interconnecting said post means with saidcontrol means, the connection of said linkage means with said post meansbeing at a zone of the latter spaced from the axis of swinging movementof said arm, for shifting said control means automatically as said armis swung relative to said post means for correlation of said focus withthe vertical position of the frame relative to a subject to beilluminated.

2. In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control meansincludes a follower element for and mechanically coupled with eachsource respectively for swinging movement with the corresponding source,and an annular member rotatably mounted on the frame and having camsurface parts engageable with each of the elements and arranged forsimultaneously swinging the latter when the member is shifted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,097,537 Snyder Nov. 2, 1937 2,215,635 Collins Sept. 24, 1940 2,574,211Hill Nov. 6, 1951 2,859,331 Grimes Nov. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 698,922Great Britain Oct. 28, 1953

